16
The Elements of Culture
Culture was defined earlier as the symbols, language, beliefs, values, and artifacts that are
part of any society. As this definition suggests, there are two basic components of culture:
The first type, called nonmaterial culture, includes the values, beliefs, symbols, and
language that define a society.
The second type, called material culture, includes all the society's physical objects, such
as its tools and technology, clothing, eating utensils, and means of transportation.
Symbols:
The first element that exists in every culture is a variety of symbols. A symbol is
anything that is used to stand for something else. People who share a culture often attach
a specific meaning to an object, gesture, sound, or image. For example, a cross is a
significant symbol to Christians. It is not simply two pieces of wood attached to each
other, nor is it just an old object of torture and execution. To Christians, it represents the
basis of their entire religion, and they have great reverence for the symbol.
For examples Symbols in American culture. Emoticons are combinations of keyboard
characters that many use to represent their feelings online or through texting. The
American flag represents our entire country. A red light at a traffic intersection is used to
relay the message that you need to stop your vehicle.
Language:
The second element present in every culture is a language. Language is a system of
words and symbols used to communicate with other people. This includes full languages
as we usually think of them, such as English, Spanish, French, etc. But it also includes
body language, slang, and common phrases that are unique to certain groups of people.
For example, even though English is spoken fluently in both America and Britain, we
have slang and phrases that mean different things. American French fries are British
chips, American cookies are British biscuits, and so on.
Values: